GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — The Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon was at 32,304 acres on Thursday morning and 61% contained, officials said.
More than 720 crewmembers are working the fire, and an incident management team from Alaska took over duties Wednesday morning. The fire grew by about 300 acres from Wednesday's estimates.
Interstate 70 remains open through Glenwood Canyon, though officials have warned that rainfall could lead to flooding and debris that could shut the highway down again.
A community meeting will be held on the Grizzly Creek Fire Facebook page Thursday at 6 p.m.
Fire behavior on Wednesday was tame, officials said, and only the west side of the fire received precipitation, despite a flash flood watch for the area. While the dry conditions contributed to the spread of the fire, too much rain could now cause flooding in the burn areas.
The cause of the Grizzly Creek Fire, which started Aug. 10, remains under investigation.
The National Forest Foundation on Tuesday announced that the White River National Forest Restoration Fund was accepting donations that will go toward restoration work on the forest that was burned by the fire.
The Forest Service says donations will go toward forest restoration and infrastructure repairs within the forest, which are expected to begin next year once the fire is extinguished and officials have determined restoration priorities.
The Grizzly Creek Fire is one of four major fires, and several smaller ones, currently burning in Colorado. Click here for more Denver7 coverage of the wildfires.
